ALL SCI-FI Forum Index ALL SCI-FI
The place to “find your people”.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Flash Gordon (2007)

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi on Television from 2001 to 2010
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:11 pm    Post subject: Flash Gordon (2007) Reply with quote

I just downloaded the complete 21 episide run of FLASH GORDON from the Sy-Fy channel and have begun watching them. I think it really starts out rather slowly, but peeking at some of the later episodes shows some promise.

I'll add to this post if interest is noted.



Anyway, Here's some info on it from various web sources :

From IMDb :

Hometown Celebrity Steven "Flash" Gordon discovers a secret his father tried desperately to keep hidden. He then embarks on a journey to another dimension in hopes of finding his father who was believed to be killed in a fire. Flash becomes involved with the struggles of Planet Mongo. A tyrannical leader controls the only source of clean water on the planet. Flash makes many allies during his struggles leading to a Revolution.



from wikapedia :

Flash Gordon is an American-Canadian science fiction television series that debuted on Sci-Fi in the United States on August 10, 2007 and continued airing new episodes through February 8, 2008. It has also appeared on the United Kingdom Sci-Fi and Space in Canada. The series was developed by Peter Hume, who served as executive producer/show runner and wrote the first and last episodes, among others.

The series was loosely based on the comic strip of the same name and incorporated elements from several previous adaptations, following the adventures of Steven "Flash" Gordon (Eric Johnson), a twenty-five-year-old who lives with his mother and whose scientist father was lost in a mysterious accident when Flash was 13 years old. Flash's ex-girlfriend, Dale Arden (Gina Holden), is a television news reporter and is engaged to police detective Joe Wylee. They introduce Gordons' eccentric former assistant, Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot), when rifts in space appear, allowing travel between Earth and the planet Mongo.

Mongo is ruled by the ruthless dictator Ming (John Ralston), who controls "Source Water", the only source of safe drinking water on Mongo. Unlike the previous adaptations, he is not normally called "the Merciless" and is instead called "Benevolent Father", though he is still called "the Merciless" in closed circles. He also exhibits the traits of modern, media-savvy dictators, rather than the more simplistic, stereotypically evil characterization of earlier incarnations.



Also, unlike previous depictions, Ming resembles a blond Caucasian human, rather than a bald East Asian man.



Ming has a daughter, Princess Aura (Anna van Hooft), who is disturbed by her father's brutality. The series adds a new non-Terran character, Baylin (Karen Cliche), a bounty hunter from Mongo. She finds herself trapped on Earth and becomes a comrade of Flash, Dale and Zarkov and their guide to Mongo and its inhabitants.

The peoples of Mongo live in "cantons", tribal groups that echo the animal-human hybrids of the original comic strip. The cantons include the Verdan (based on Prince Barin's forest-dwelling people from the strip), the Turin (based on the strip's Lion Men), the Dactyls (the series' version of the strip's Hawkmen), the Omadrians (women who create powerful medicines), the Frigians (who live in the frozen wastelands), the Tritons (who live beneath the ocean), and the Zurn (painted blue "Magic Men" led by Queen Azura).

There is also another group known as the Deviates, mutants whose ancestors drank "Grey Water" (toxic water) to survive. The Deviates are led by Terek, their unofficial king (and Aura's brother) and are distrusted by almost everyone.

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Hey, I've never watched this series! Very Happy

YouTube has the pilot, but all the other episodes (from different people) are dubbed in French. Netflix, sadly, doesn't have it. Sad

The YouTube version of the pilot has a 41:48 running time and includes the closing credits, so I guess the "part 1" in the title below doesn't mean the episodes is incomplete.
________________________________


______________ Flash Gordon 101 Pilot Part 1


__________

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Thu Jun 18, 2020 2:55 pm; edited 3 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
scotpens
Starship Captain


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 871
Location: The Left Coast

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I haven't seen this series, but it sounds decidedly unpromising -- not to mention cheaply produced. I mean, I can buy Dale Arden as Flash's ex-girlfriend. I can even buy a politically correct (i.e. Caucasian) Emperor Ming. But Flash Gordon without spaceships? Sacrilege!

Last edited by scotpens on Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:31 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Well, it sounds like this series won't give us much to praise, but it might give us interesting things to criticize. And that's fun, too. Very Happy

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1877

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud Brewster wrote:
Well, it sounds like this series won't give us much to praise, but it might give us interesting things to criticize. And that's fun, too. Very Happy

Whuh...? I should waste my time watching something I have no interest in, just so I can criticize it? Confused

You'll have to excuse me from this undertaking. I have some wet paint that needs watching. Then after that's dry, there's some intriguing grass growing in my yard.

_________________
...or not...

WayneO
-----------
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

orzel-w wrote:
Bud Brewster wrote:
Well, it sounds like this series won't give us much to praise, but it might give us interesting things to criticize. And that's fun, too. Very Happy

Whuh...? I should waste my time watching something I have no interest in, just so I can criticize it. Confused

Ah-ha! Perhaps not, but I coaxed a comment out of you about how the series isn't even WORTH watching!

And your comment was crafted to be funny and enjoyable to read. So . . . I win. Very Happy

(And I look forward to your reply. Wink)

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Thu Mar 08, 2018 4:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1877

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Doh!
_________________
...or not...

WayneO
-----------
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

orzel-w wrote:
Doh!

Brilliant!

A classic! Humble, and yet praise-worthy!

Understated, but powerful.

A prime example of "less is more"!

Wayne . . . you're my hero. Cool

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The whole question of the casting of a caucasion as "Ming" is rather meaningless. The original intent was to portray a "Yellow Menace" character that would today be looked at as politicly insensitive!

The current casting makes Ming a more fascist character and therefore more likely accepted in today's political environment.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Hey, here's part 2 of the pilot from YouTube I posted above! Very Happy
________________________________



______________ Flash Gordon 102 Pilot Part 2


__________

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I hope our negative comments haven't discouraged any members who are fans of this show from commenting on it. Sad

I'll just point out that none of use who have posted so far have actually seen the series, so our negative opinions are not based on actual experiences.

Therefore, any member of All Sci-Fi who actually likes the show can correct our misconceptions and make a few positive comments about the series. Very Happy

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought that the laddies were beautiful and the production a turkey.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnnybear
Mission Specialist


Joined: 15 Jun 2016
Posts: 442

PostPosted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember watching this at the time and was not too happy with it! Ming the Merciless wasn't a bald headed Asiatic maniac as he should have been!

Politically sensitive or not — why change what worked before?

There were also no rocket ships or space scenes and everything was handled with space warps which enabled Flash and his pals to get to Mongo and back without a vessel of any kind! I did like Ming's daughter, but that was I think!

JB
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17018
Location: North Carolina

PostPosted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

JB, your comments convinced me that if I watched this series I'd have no more luck trying to like it than I would if I tried eating liver again after hating it since I first tasted the disgusting stuff when I was a kid!

Thank you, sir. Very Happy

_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Sci-Fi on Television from 2001 to 2010 All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group